Private Concierge Service [Updates]

Burning Man Concierge Service is a product of The Key Group. We are an european company based in Geneva (Switzerland) and Luxembourg, specializing in Family Office and Private Concierge services.
From the begining, we always develop some new products in order to meet the specific needs and requests of our clients. Our dynamic team is used to treat the most eccentrics requests, while maintaining total privacy and also the safety of our clients.

Going further than just a supplier, we study the request with our customers to assist them in each project. Together We develop projects proposing some new ideas, extremely targeted to provide total satisfaction to our customers. Whether to make a personal dream, any urgent need, planning some holidays, or even to please your own clients in a Business to Business, our team will make every effort to surprise you.

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN DO IT

Following the request of a group of clients, we decided to create this service of Burning Man Concierge Service to allow you to enjoy this wonderful experience in the best conditions of comfort you can expect. With a long experience in the major festivals around the world, our team will take care of everything for you, to let you live your Burn and keep a magical memories of this unique adventure !

What sort of services are on offer, for those who like their Radical Self Reliance to be Immediate? Everything from holding your parasol to fetching you in a private plane and designing your own art car.

To enable our customers to make the most of their experience at Burning Man, we offer a concierge service that takes care of all the logistics of their stay, and which offers the best comfort you can hope for in a desert camp.

P.Diddy’s girlfriend Cassie poses in front of the couple’s Pilatus PC-12, a sweet ride to the Playa

Example of proposed services :

– Arranging and booking of flights to Reno– Welcome and support from the Reno airport– Flight to Burning Man in a private plane– Skydiving over the playa– Survival pack – Establishment of a camp with electricity, water and satellite internet wifi connection– Welcoming participants in some luxury RV, comfortable and air-conditioned (2 – 4 people per RV)– Daily water supply for the RV– Private toilets for the camp– Musical entertainment in the camp– Organization of Camp central tent (decoration, sofas, beds)– Supplies additional costumes and accessories for bike decorations– Customized Art Car for all the group with BM authorized driver– Cooks and fresh buffets for every meal– Snacks 24/24– Open bar 24/24 with fresh drinks and alcohol at discretion– Possibility of ordering goods and products from outside Black Rock City every day (+24h)– Technician guard 24/24– Physical coach and 4 times per day sport training sessions at the camp and around the playa– Massages on request provide by the physical coach– Photo reportage and editing a souvenir book– Organize a goodbye party for 300 person (guest + friends) in the camp (DJ)

Extra VIP services :

– Study, design and creation of your own art cars– Coordination of any artistic performance of your choice

[Update 8/10/14 1:44pm]

Technically, this is all perfectly fine for them to offer – just like TurnkeyPlug-n-Play camping – as long as BMOrg gets their cut. The BLM takes 3%. Radical Inclusion, Radical Self Expression, dehydrated Sparkle Ponies and Leave No Trace butt up against Civic Responsibility and Radical Self Reliance and Decommodification and Gifting and Communist Ethics Communal Effort in one big, confusing, lucrative mess. Wash your own brains. The people giving you a ride on that public conveyance Art Car or displaying that giant fire breathing statue for your enjoyment might be there on one of these packages, so think before you hate. This is by no means the only private concierge service at Burning Man.

Commenter Nomad Traveler points out that this must be sanctioned by the BMOrg, like SK8 camp’s merchandise, since they are using the Burning Man logo.

http://burningmanvip.net must be a BOrg-sanctioned activity because:
a) it has the Burning Man logo;
b) it uses the “Burning Man” name in it’s title and domain;
c) it uses BM pix for commercial purposes;
d) they list a US contact: Los Angeles +1 323 375 0 735 usa@the-key.ch.

Otherwise, those add up to the sort of thing the BOrg has unleashed their lawyers on. Nope. I figure it is just another way the BOrg is cashing in.

[Update 8/11/14 9:22 am] Thought it was a troll? I told you, this is just one of several private concierge services I’m aware of at Burning Man. Some people objected to their music lineup because they took it from the BMOrg site. The true story is it was just satire, masquerading as fact, yet again: an April Fools Day post from Burning Man announcing the music lineup. A big farce. For just a glimpse of the real lineup, see our post on White Ocean and keep checking Rockstar Librarian for her guide.

It ain’t no troll people. This is the real deal: and for many wealthy clients, an indispensable service. Their personal assistant might not have Playa experience.

The Key Group have updated their web site to share their views on the negative comments this story has generated. Don’t hate, Burners! There isn’t some special device inside an RV or private plane that suddenly makes you “not” go to Burning Man. Radical inclusion means everyone is welcome, whatever their style – except haters. Haters should fuck off.

An article about our services has been posted on the website Burners.Me, causing negatives reviews from Burners.

More and more camps offer paid services to improve the comfort of Burners. This is not new. You can also have your RV directly delivered on site, and arriving by plane to avoid the long wait to get to Black Rock City. Burning Man Sanitation offers against payment to purge your RV to take advantage of your private toilet and showers. It is a part of the most pay services you can found at Burning Man, and actually probably reserved for Burners with a higher budget…

Through this website we offer to the Burners who want to be able to enjoy there Burn with a greater comfort. We do not sell the experience, it is personal and unique to each Burner.

Also we make a point of honor to explain the principles and ideology of Burning Man to our clients, so that they are participants and not spectators. We also ask our clients to take part in a community project of their choice.

We are surprised by so many negative reactions on the services we offer, and which already exists at Burning Man for several years. Moreover, the first principle of Burning Man is not the Radical Inclusion? Defined as such on the official website of Burning Man: Anyone May Be apart of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.

Finally it might be good to remember, as it is also mentioned in the article that those « wealthier » Burners help support and fund many projects that benefit the entire community. So please Think Before you hate!

Burner and Concierge Antoine had this to say in our comments:

.

Dear Burners,I understand very well that some of you may be surprised (or offended?) by the creation of such a service, but as the article notes does well, more and more camps offer luxury services for rich Burners. We must also not forget that many rich Burners support artists, art cars, and many other projects that contribute to the magic of BM and benefit the entire community …In our case, and as you can see on our website, we ask our customers to support in the way they choose a project for the community. We try to stay as close as possible to the spirit of BM. Also we explain to our clients the principle of BM, and the fact that there, no matter who they are or how rich They Are, that they remain Burners first. They should stay simple and open to everyone.I think everyone is free to live his burn in its own way, and I do not see why rich Burners would have to play the poor’s to come, especially when we know that their wealth allows them to benefit others burners of their projects and their financial support. It would be so hypocritical to force them to live a life that is not theirs…Have you ever seen someone restrict you to jump on his art because, or come and enjoy the DJ at a party on the pretext that it was the one who financed? Are what we should then think interdict the RV’s at Burning Man, because maybe some Burners are not afford to hire one?Also you all probably know that Burning Man keeps work to thousands of people, from the Rangers to the RV rental companies (which also deprive themselves to double or even triple the price), people who build art cars, pilots that allow some Burners to come directly by plane, … And personally I think the more important for people who work around Burning Man is to stay the spirit first…I’m a Burner first, and I want to preserve the spirit of BM as much as you, to continue to have the possibility to live this fantastic experience. I can promise you that I do my best to make our customers live BM as Burners and not as tourists, despite the luxury in which they can live it…I really appreciate all your posts, thank you all for sharing your opinion, whether positive or negative with respect to our services, and it reinforces my idea of ​​renewed attention to the towards the importance of the integration of our clients in the spirit of Burning Man.

.

Seems perfectly reasonable to me. But then, I know a lot of rich people. And a lot of them are Burners.

Hello every one I am silva beckham I want to share a testimony on how I was made rich. I was once poor, searching the internet on who to link me to be rich, one day I met a man email address called illuminati mark I contacted he to help me, so he require for my details and I provide the requirement to enable me be a member and I was successful initiated immediately I was rewarded with the sum of 50million usd and many others and now am rich you can also contact he for help at illuminatilord6@gmail.com

This is why I stopped going to Burning Man and now focus on regional events where the original spirit, traditions and connections live on. Burning Man is now just a reflection of the default world. The rich can have Burning Man and continue turning it into a gaudy, over the top, shit show of excess and privilege.

Who gives a shit? They can stay in their protected, private air-conditioned ass wash camps and be driven around in a private art car wearing some tutu, nylon fur and stupid shoes. They don’t have to contribute a thing. Someone is making a buck off this dipshit who is missing the entire point anyway. They are paying a fortune to see my contribution, your contribution and all the contributions of the thousands of volunteers that make this thing go off every year. At this magnitude, where do you draw the line? What is the line? Don’t forget, there are many members of the DPW that absolutely fucking HATE you as a participant and I’ve bitched about that for years. We’ve tolerated that for years then all of a sudden you don’t like Zuckerburg for wanting to see a little T and A and some art and fire and possibly fulfill his dream of giving a prearranged secret blow job topped off with some lobster at 100X the price that you and I are paying. Quit whining. There are plenty of individuals that show up with the intent of drugging and raping simply because they can easily blend into the shadows while fulfilling their little terrible passions. This is a full functioning city of 70,000 that includes all the evils as well and I don’t think Zuckerburg role playing the Gimp that big of a problem.

Arlo, you are right. But a turd in the punchbowl does spoil the party even if you are not having any punch. Like people with RVs and gensets, a city of 70,000 needs zoning. BRC should have zoning for the RV/genset crowd, including the 1%er camps, so those who don’t want to be near these things can choose to. Of course it could be a non-RV/non-genset zone, someplace where these are not allowed.

Either way. The fundamental problem comes from RV/genset people not bothering other RV/genset people, only the low-tech crowd, while the low-tech crowd do not bother the RV/genset people. After all, who ever heard of someone in an RV complaining about the non-RV/non-genset people camped next door?

Guys… The main event reached critical mass years ago. Its time to get focused on our regional’s and time to reground ourselves but creating new roots. The main festival has been bought. Its clear as day after 2013.

I’m not too sure if having everything provided for you would be considered “radical self-reliance.” Although, there are many other ways to enjoy murningban as a richer. As I sat here and thought about it for only about 5 minutes, if I were a richer, I would use my imagination as a “richer burner” and buy everything i need to build my own self-reliant camp. Or even better, add more funding to an established camp, camp with them and make new friends. They can also help you prepare for your burn. Just something think about.

Sk8 Kamp and the BMorg logo are not the same. Sk8 Kamp is not selling merch with the BMorg logo on it.

The logos are differentiated enough because one arm is down and holding a skateboard. These kind of small variations in logo and branding work happen all the time in the default world. This logo was actually hand sketched and inspired by the BMorg logo, but again, is not the same and is not trademarked.

You’re saying that our site is misinformation, because the SK8 logo is the Burning Man logo with one arm down holding a skateboard – not the Burning Man logo without a skateboard, which is quite different. You even acknowledge that the SK8 camp logo is “inspired” by the BM logo.

I think any Burner would recognize The Man in this:

is it just me, or does that look EXACTLY like the Burning Man logo on SK8’s merchandise?

As long as it’s a Burning Man camp, with no other, default world, commercial purpose other than to fund the camp at BM, why would that be a problem? Lots of camps use a stylized BM logo in their art work.

got any links? Because I can’t find any other Kickstarter or Indiegogo projects selling hoodies, hats, or any other merchandise with a “stylized” Burning Man logo. SK8 camp are continuing to list their AirBNB “prank” as well.

thanks, but that looks like a sticker – a free giveaway. Which they explicitly allow. Quite a bit different from a camp selling hoodies with the Burning Man logo (except it’s not because it’s holding a skateboard).

Part of their fundraising efforts, as it is for Sk8 Kamp. But my intention isn’t to throw anyone under the bus, just to prove you’re providing misinformation to your audience. I’m sure I could find even more examples of this.

I personally think that all camps should be able to do what SK8 camp is doing, both the hoodies and the AirBnB.

My broader point is the hypocrisy that comes from selective enforcement of the rules.

Here’s what the Ticket Terms and Conditions say, read #2 in particular:

BRC generally does permit the use of the mark “Burning Man,” the logo of the Man, or the design of Black Rock City, without payment of any license fee, on materials that are given away or provided to supporters at any Burning Man event (“Gift Materials”), with the following conditions: (1) Burning Man may, for any reason whatsoever in its discretion, determine that such use is not in keeping with Burning Man’s quality control, and if so all such materials shall no longer be utilized; (2) no ungifted Gift Materials may be sold or transferred in exchange for something of value or distributed in any form such that the Gift Materials are likely to be sold or transferred in exchange for something of value.

Wow. It appears that the whole site was taken down over the course of today. It was up and live when I first looked this morning. But now the whole thing is 404. However the main company website the-key.ch is still live with an advert: “Discover the probably most extraordinary Art and Music festival in the world in the confort{sic} of a exclusive VIP Experience…” on the home page that links to a members only page. So riddle me this, how does “exclusive VIP experience” reflect the Principle of Radical Inclusion?

Further to that point where the representative from Key Group reached out the author here and reminds of the text of this principle “Anyone May Be apart of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.” as a defense for allowing his clients at attend BM in this kind of luxury. Then going on to imply that perhaps the rest of us are just jealous because “maybe some Burners are not afford to hire one”.

But I digress from the Radical Inclusion point and I ask Mr. Key Group rep, may anyone wander into your camp to get a bit of shade and rest on a couch in your Camp Central Tent if they have over-extended themselves in the heat or will your 24/24 Security Guard turn him/her away?

And that Good Bye Party in camp at the end? Only paying Key Group clients (guests) and their friends, hmm? Excluding any other Burners who may not have the “privilege” of knowing a wealthy patron.

We always did welcome anyone when I was on the playa. However, we did refuse offers to trade two warm beers for two cold beers. They could join us to have a gift cold beer, but not exchange to their thermodynamic benefit and move on. The difference between gifting and radical-self reliance.

In fact, we got the most of those “offers” from bad-planners the last year I went. One of the reasons I no longer go. The regionals are different. Much more like the Burn was before the shark got jumped (ca 2008).

Yes, if anyone wandered into my camp no one playing security would rush them out and tell them to go away unless they were being a jerk or caught trying to steal something. I’ve met loads of awesome people who wandered into my camp. That’s part of the beauty of the event and radical inclusion.

I don’t typically throw parties in my camp, and definitely not with velvet rope style entry. I have thrown plenty of parties out on the open playa at my art pieces and all are welcome.

C’mon guys, it’s a troll. A well done troll, hats off to the perpetrators. It’s bringing attention to a real & destructive trend, turnkey camps for rich spectators is a blight on the Playa. But this one ain’t real, sorry.

It’s a troll, in which the international company updates their web site, and sends their representatives here to clarify the situation?
Perhaps you should consider the possibility that “it’s a troll” is a troll. Burning Man’s “official” looking post about the music lineup was definitely a troll.

The source of the ‘music line-up’ was a joke post on BM’s blog. For some reason (I can imagine why) the ‘Concierge Service’ company didn’t get the joke, but that’s not surprising – BMorg lost its sense of humor many years ago, so their ‘jokes’ are taken seriously. Here’s the deleted line-up:
2014 MUSIC LINEUP

Please die in a fire for completely destroying this organization by introducing the monetary system and pampering needy bitches who have no business there if they can’t hack it bye themselves or otherwise known as radical SELF Reliance! RADICAL SELF RELIANCE, , RADICAL SELF RELIANCE! read that back to yourself about 10 more times

having said that please allow me to take the die in a fire back and do not mean that, just had to get the 1st impulse out of the way, now Fuck off with your money bitches. if you can do that then you’re welcome back just f*** off with your money

Dear Burners,
I understand very well that some of you may be surprised (or offended?) by the creation of such a service, but as the article notes does well, more and more camps offer luxury services for rich Burners. We must also not forget that many rich Burners support artists, art cars, and many other projects that contribute to the magic of BM and benefit the entire community …
In our case, and as you can see on our website, we ask our customers to support in the way they choose a project for the community. We try to stay as close as possible to the spirit of BM. Also we explain to our clients the principle of BM, and the fact that there, no matter who they are or how rich They Are, that they remain Burners first. They should stay simple and open to everyone.
I think everyone is free to live his burn in its own way, and I do not see why rich Burners would have to play the poor’s to come, especially when we know that their wealth allows them to benefit others burners of their projects and their financial support. It would be so hypocritical to force them to live a life that is not theirs…
Have you ever seen someone restrict you to jump on his art because, or come and enjoy the DJ at a party on the pretext that it was the one who financed? Are what we should then think interdict the RV’s at Burning Man, because maybe some Burners are not afford to hire one?
Also you all probably know that Burning Man keeps work to thousands of people, from the Rangers to the RV rental companies (which also deprive themselves to double or even triple the price), people who build art cars, pilots that allow some Burners to come directly by plane, … And personally I think the more important for people who work around Burning Man is to stay the spirit first…
I’m a Burner first, and I want to preserve the spirit of BM as much as you, to continue to have the possibility to live this fantastic experience. I can promise you that I do my best to make our customers live BM as Burners and not as tourists, despite the luxury in which they can live it…
I really appreciate all your posts, thank you all for sharing your opinion, whether positive or negative with respect to our services, and it reinforces my idea of ​​renewed attention to the towards the importance of the integration of our clients in the spirit of Burning Man.

Unless you’re gifting all your services to the people you refer to as “customers”, you are about as clueless as it gets, about what Burning Man and being a Burner is! Your justification, for your parasitic commercial enterprise, is pathetic. It’s main purpose is to open BM up as a tourist destination, for the upper class twits of the year, you cater to. Furthermore, please, don’t confuse your clientele with Burners, who are in the “affluent to obscenely rich” category, because regardless of how high up they are, in said category, or how much they choose to display their wealth on the Playa, they certainly are not going to hire some shmuck to come and wipe their ass for them! Fortunately, Radical Inclusion means you and your twits are welcome, amongst the Burners. We can only hope that eventually, after many, many Burns, some dust will finally get in and settle in your synapses, and you’ll be better for it.

Burning Man is ‘Decommodification’ in principle, not in actuality (anymore). Antoine, 10 years ago I’d be raging against such things as turn-key camping and the like, but things have changed; Burning Man has evolved. Yet there is still the sentiment that profiting off the community is wrong, but it’s not. BMorg and those connected to it (on the ‘inside’) participate various black market opportunities on and off the playa. Morality is situational and cultural – making money off Burning Man isn’t wrong, anymore. Those who say you (or your customers) don’t ‘get it’, don’t get that. They’re living in the past.

First, it’s not the making of money, it’s how it’s done and presented. The more you take participation out and put spectator in, the more BM becomes less experimental community and more yet another festival, where people come to be entertained, instead of entertaining by creating. This may still come to pass, despite our best efforts, but personally I’m not ready to accept that as inevitable. Just because one does not want a particular future, does not mean one is living in the past.

Second, regardless of how you feel about the current state of moral fortitude, of the members of the org, you know, the ones who created it and are making sure it still goes on every year, our tolerance of their transgressions and allowances does not extend to every Tom, Shmuck and Harry, who likes playing with dust and matches.

>our tolerance of their transgressions and allowances does not extend…

But why not? Do you think you have a stake in any of this, that it’s somehow your festival in some small part? That kind of thinking is nice but it no longer has basis in reality, and hasn’t for a very long time. There was a time when these issues were discussed at length, but there was only room for the yes-men – all the no-men are six feet under.

So, how do we embrace the rich? I think Haggis said, it with the story about Sting. Money isn’t the issue, non-participation is. Help to build something for/with the community, don’t JUST write a check, and you’ll be part of it. Otherwise, you’re just an un-welcomed tourist.

firstly, don’t assume they’re all assholes. Secondly, what makes you think you haven’t already? If you go to Burning Man, you embrace the rich, while they get to pretend to be common folk in cool costumes. The levelling element of the elements themselves can be part of the event’s reward for the rich and famous.

it’s all participation. Even the port-a-potties. Concierge or not, if you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta suck it up and go. Wait in line with everyone else for a pretty gnarly human experience. All Burners are equal on the shitter. That’s part of Black Rock City too.
I can usually hold on til I get back to the RV. Sparkle ponies get confused and disoriented, their needs become more urgent…

Antoine,
Just a point of clarification. Burning Man doesn’t employ the legions of Rangers, or the people who work Gate, or the Greeters, or the helpful people at Playa Info, etc. These are participants who volunteer their precious vacation time out of love for Black Rock City, and their desire to make sure others get to experience it too.

Fair enough, but these people will never see the inside of a general-use portapotty. Did you read the site/services? Everything is ‘provided.’ They are ‘asked’ to participate… They are not required to put up a tent, or help raise or strike a camp, or do anything except just show up, period. To me, that makes them tourists. Just my opinion… It doesn’t make them evil people, and I know this isn’t new, but I don’t think ‘tourism’ is something the event welcomes, is it?

everyone is asked to participate. And unless they have a mobile port-a-potty following them everywhere they step (which would be quite easy to spot), if they’re out on the Playa and they need to go, they’re forced to line up with the rest of us.

Oh, oh, wait… I have the answer. They can hire people to volunteer for them. That counts, right? (If they could, I am sure they would hire people to use the port-a-potties for them.)

It’s all good. Take a helicopter to the top of Kilimanjaro (avoids all that tedious climbing), hire a submarine to see the Great Blue Hole (why get wet?), drive down the Champs-Élysées (walking is over-rated), and fly in to BRC. Why NOT let the the handicapped have access to these amazing experiences? Don’t be haters. They cannot help it if there are things they cannot do that come easily to us.

Even better: Handicapped Burning Man! Hold a special, separate event for the rich. Airstrip-only access. Helicopter in triple-wide luxury town-trailers, and fresh sushi every 3 hours. Stupidly large tanks for fresh water for baths, and massive holding tanks for grey water. Think of all work for the engineers and helicopter pilots. Have enough propane to light up the desert so you cannot tell day from night. And none of those smelly Burners to make you feel bad.

So food vouchers, free tickets, stipends, showers, etc are not payments? I guess you’ll need to tell the IRS that they’re full of bullshit, those are all volunteers!!

Yes, the grunt, temp muscle is volunteer – the full-timers (so many shifts == ranger ticket, ditto for medical), leads and people in-charge get varying levels of support, some of it cash. And that’s just on the low-end, once you get up to corporate-land…

“We must also not forget that many rich Burners support artists, art cars, and many other projects that contribute to the magic of BM and benefit the entire community …”

Please excuse the common burner’s lack of gratitude for all that our richer brethren provide. What an ungrateful lot we are. Unfortunately, some of us have been attending the event for long enough not necessarily see the ongoing pissing contest to see who can have the biggest art car or big-name bought-in DJ line up (as White Ocean must surely be) as net positives. If anything, maybe we see some of these things as corrosive to the event itself. Thanks Russian billionaire for pushing BM ever closer to being just one more stop on some global dance festival circuit? I don’t think so.

you are using my artwork The Serpent Twins, and the Electrobite to sell your services. The art and the picture I took of it belong to me and regardless of your supposed entitlements, you have no right to use. Now that you have, where is my cut so I can build the art you freely use to sell your product both on your site and as content to the “experiences” on the playa.

*Ding!* Wrong. Guess again. The pictures of YOUR art belong to Decommodification, LLC. Read your ticket. Sure, they violated commercial use rights, but it is the Larry LLCs that collect. It is now a contest of competing piles of rotting exploitation (of you). Which one smells worst?

Actually, I think the BMllc just says that you license them to go after people who violate it – and that they, BMllc, can profit from it. So more like co-owners. Problem is, that art owners grant license to any photographers, so he’d have to be the photographer who took those pix. I’m guessing this is a bunch of foreign burners, who’re selling this as a way to fund their own burn – and took the pix themselves.

Read your ticket. YOU cannot use YOUR own pictures for commercial purposes without licensing the rights from them. Jon says the pictures they used on the web site were ones HE took of HIS art.

Given the fact that they did not get the joke of the “music lineup” that they lifted from the BOrg web site that they copied in earnest, and several other weird things they mention, I doubt if there are any Burners involved. They are selling a caricature of the Burn that they have surmised from off the playa. Like several of their other concierge “adventures,” they are re-selling from the hype, not from experience.

Current ticket says: “Use other than personal use of images of photographs from Burning Man,…, is prohibited without prior written consent of Burning Man.
…
You hereby appoint Burning Man as your representative to protect your intellectual property or privacy rights, recognizing that Burning Man has no obligation to take any such action.”

Nothing says exclusive representative, merely that you allow them to go after anyone on your behalf. Nothing says you can’t also act in your own behalf.

Jon: “The art and the picture I took of it belong to me”
Nomad: “The pictures of YOUR art belong to Decommodification, LLC”
Me: ” BMllc just says that you license them to go after people who violate it – and that they, BMllc, can profit from it.”
Nomad: “Jon says the pictures they used on the web site were ones HE took of HIS art.”

Just saying, who owns the art doesn’t currently matter (mostly) – photographers own their photographs – especially at BM, where art is specifically licensed to be photographed (by free photographers).

BMllc can profit from any photographs taken at BM.

If Jon took pictures of his artwork outside of Burning Man, no problem.

If those are photos he took inside of BM, BMllc owns the use of them. If others are using them, BMllc can go after them. Nothing says, AFAIK – IANAL, that Jon can’t go after these guys (did anyone save a copy of the page?) in the absence of BMllc going after them.

Jon would have to prove that those were his pictures, and not other pictures taken by other people of his artwork.

Jon only gets to claim some damages, because I doubt he registered for statutory damages (read: co$t$ money, and must be done within a certain time period).

Are you that confused, or your shill role is showing. The only reason to go after someone is to prevent unlicensed use. If it was one of my personal pix, I have nothing to gain other than suppressing the use; the only benefit comes from the only entity that can collect a fee for licensing, and that’s the BOrg. Why would I take legal action so the BOrg could collect fees?

The issue is not the wealthy coming to burning man, funding camps, art or anything else. Rich people have been coming for a long time and have contributed much over the years. The issue that strikes a nerve is commodification of the whole experience it is simply something that is bought outright and making the unsellable sellable. The concierge service you provide does just that and having clients for BM seems to be a contradiction. To be fair the whole notion of the plug & play camps is part of the ongoing commodification (as Tippy points out) and the service you provide takes it even farther.

I would venture to guess that people who fund major camps and art do this for the benefit of others. I really don’t care how they get there, how much money they have, how fancy their RV or camp is. They are all welcome and can live the burn as they see fit and do not have to play at being “poor”. These people are participating and investing in the experience that is the key difference.

The overall trend is a bit disconcerting. When ticket demand exceeded supply, even if the “radical Inclusion” idea remains on the books, it is neutered. Inherently too much demand and too few tickets gives rise to exclusion (or should I say radical exclusion?). It also facilitates higher ticket prices, and all that money tends to corrupt certain processes, county and federal government agencies, and people involved. By my perspective, Burning Man is not yet a victim of its own success, but it is on its way. It already has been an event for people with money for many years, and it is moving upscale, so to speak. It is on a glide path towards being a party for the 10% . . . 5%. . . 1% ?? Welcome Gover Norquist!!

Anyone notice the wedding photos? What do you do if you’re wealthy burners who want to get married at burning man but who’s pampered family would not “get it”. Well, you hire someone to take care of the parental units out there. Seems fine.

While everyone can experience the Burn in any way they choose, it still is a bit sad that people can’t or won’t leave their comfort zone to experience the event in a way which is different than their personal “default world”. I think it is ironic that some of these more rich and famous that are artists or centers of attention in their default world, become the spectators in this world; and most Burners won’t even give a fuck either way.

Yup, discomfort and the experience of ordeal is part of what makes the event so intense. I tent camp, keep it simple and austere. Being there in upscale hotel grade accommodations with servants, rather than not sweating my ass off, not using porta potties, not spray and wiping plus baby wipes rather than a shower, not contributing blood, sweat and tears to the BRC community? Hmmm, totally not the same experience. Such pampering and comfort to my mind is inherently more a sight seeing thing rather than taking part in a temporary community in a lethal environment.

I’m sure the the borg will try and take it down when they become aware of it. A trademark holder is pretty much required to defend it or lose it. Another wrinkle might be that these folks are not in the US. The domain registration and hosting are all in europe. I’ve never had to do it myself, but I’m assuming it’s much harder to get something taken down for infringement when they are not in the US.

It doesn’t bother me. I don’t concern myself of how others “burn.” i pay more attention to how my friends & i burn. after 5 times on the playa, this being my sixth, i have no issue with plug n players. everyone should burn the way they want to. i have no quarrel with them.

Wow, what a creative way to reinforce the illusion of separation in a container that was created to do the precise opposite. Then again we can probably all agree burning man isn’t what it once was–but the regional and local burns are =]

The hard work…and getting through the gate keepers of sacrifice and difficulty….gives you a deeper appreciation for what others have gone through to bring this experience/art to the playa for you. Your gratitude is greater. Your heart feels the love and you are inspired to give back! This is fueled by the alternating feelings of humility and greatness swelling in your heart. These folks are actually missing out on the best part of the experience…the hard work is the key to the experience.
You can go party in style anywhere…go to Ibiza.
This is a chance to feel something new. To plant a seed of gratitude in your soul and change your whole perspective….and it is a stronger hit when you give up the convenience and get dirty. It’s really not as fun until you give up…burn through your cynicism. Lose the judging and comparing voice. I cant wait to go through the metamorphosis again this year in my humble tent and on our fantastic art car that we let everyone on and never goes in a straight line. Join us! A Cavallo

What…only poor people can be true burners? Or if someone has money to buy anything they want they should pretend that they don’t? We all use the maximum of our own funds to create the most fun and comfort we can on the playa…rich people shouldn’t do that?

Not at all, personally I would welcome wealthy people as long as they get down and dirty and be regular people and mix it up with regular people. Like the Sting story on this thread. If all that they bring is their separate and coddled existence while most of the rest of the BRC community is busting ass to make it all happen. I for one would not extend a welcome to them.
IMHO Burning Man needs a certain boot camp for freaks element, It is an important part of the experience.

This is not about what the “get” this is about what they “miss”.
A number of years ago we had Sting camp with us (yea, that “Sting”). Within an hour he had on a pair of gloves and a tool belt and was another guy helping to build front end. In the evening, he and his wife took off on their bikes, low key and alive.. I asked him when he returned “what do you think mate?” He replied that he was “humbled” by the experience…. A true burner.

Doesn’t this take all the fun and creativity in being a burner? The scramble for your own camp to come together? Does it come complete with a tour book of what I need to see and go when? Hahah sparkle poneys